It's Official: Cheryl Cole OUT of US X Factor!

NO MORE CHERYL!

It's finally been confirmed that Cheryl Cole is indeed out of the US version of X Factor.

FOX, Fremantle, and Syco TV have released a statement confirming that former host Nicole Scherzinger will be replacing the British pop star on the judging panel, which also features Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and L.A. Reid.

The Internet was abuzz with reports that the producers wanted Cheryl Cole back, but it is clear now that those plans fell through. She was allegedly fired from the series two weeks ago, but there was no confirmation from either side.

The question now remains whether Cheryl will receive the money she was promised in her contract, or if the producers found a loophole to prevent paying her.

Now that she's out of both versions of X Factor, will there be a Girls Aloud reunion?

US X Factor Drama Continues! Producers Want Cheryl Cole To Get Work Visa

The cat-and-mouse game between ousted judge Cheryl Cole and the X Factor producers continues!

According to an exclusive report by The Hollywood Reporter, Cheryl Cole is being asked by Fremantle North America, the show's production company, to visit the U.S. Embassy in London to apply for a work visa in order to do the show. A source close to Cheryl claims that she was never fired from the show and that Cheryl is apparently in the process of getting her visa.

The source is also claiming that Fremantle is ultimately trying to avoid breaching the $2.4 million contract they signed her to and paying her out, calling it a "chess match".

Meanwhile, over in the UK, the judges of that version of X Factor are claiming that Cheryl Cole is fine and she will bounce back. Apparently she spoke to both Louis Walsh and new judge and Take That member Gary Barlow about her "firing".

Once again, this all smells of either a publicity stunt or a really elaborate test of Cheryl's popularity.

Keep it locked here as this catastrophe continues to unfold before the September premiere.

"I Know Nothing": Paula Abdul Clueless Over Cheryl Cole's Firing

Cheryl Cole and Paula Abdul at first X Factor auditions
(photo courtesy of Daily Mail Online)

The Cheryl Cole/US X Factor drama just keeps getting worse and worse.

Now Paula Abdul, who was the last judge announced for the show, is claiming she had no idea that her co-judge was reportedly sacked.

The former American Idol judge, when asked about Cheryl during an interview in Singapore, reacted with surprise, claiming that her traveling has prevented her from having any information on the subject.

"You probably know more than I do," Paula said.

Paula also came to Cheryl's defense: "All I can tell you is that she is lovely and I was really excited about the relationship and friendship we were forging. And regardless I am really looking forward to continuing that. She's wonderful."

One of the reasons given for Cheryl's firing from the series was her lack of chemistry with Paula, so her advocacy for Cheryl certainly raises an eyebrow.

Once again, there has been zero confirmation from an official source, so my theory that this is a hoax still stands. Meanwhile, British tabloids are now claiming that the British X Factor is holding off on announcing its judging panel, hoping Cheryl will return to the program.

Is Cheryl Cole's Firing From US X Factor a Media Hoax?

Was Cheryl really sacked?

Unless you went to Cabo and had no internet access for the past few days, then you've heard (hopefully from me first) that British pop star Cheryl Cole has been fired from her judging position on the American edition of X Factor. The shocking decision to sack the beauty comes three weeks after the announcement that she was hired, and days after she was last seen at the auditions.

The report originated from the reliable blog TMZ, and spread like wildfire. Nearly every news outlet, even the New York Times, was reporting the news, only citing TMZ's original post. They claimed that Cheryl was sacked because of her accent and the supposed poor chemistry she had with other judges, Paula Abdul in particular.

What is particularly confusing about this mess is that no one, and I mean no one is actually able to confirm from official sources, like FOX or Simon Cowell. Calls to set the record straight through Twitter were ignored. No one is delivering any information, despite the continuation of the auditions, this time in Dallas.

While reports from Britain claim Cheryl is back on their side of the pond, no one, except the usual suspect sources, is offering any details about why she was fired, and what her future plans are.

The silence regarding such a hot button topic makes me wonder whether this isn't a clever ruse on Simon Cowell's part to drum up interest for his new show.

Cheryl Cole FIRED From US X Factor!

Numerous sources are reporting that British pop star Cheryl Cole has been fired from the American version of X Factor.

The decision to sack the Girls Aloud member comes only weeks after she was announced as a judge, after months of nailbiting negotiations. According to TMZ.com, the primary reason for Cheryl Cole's firing was because of her Geordie accent, which worried producers. Apparently, they believed that viewers would have a difficult time understanding Cheryl during the show.

TMZ is also reporting that Cheryl will be replaced by current host Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls. She previously covered for Cheryl on the British version of the show when she became ill with malaria last year.

Personally, I think this is an absolutely horrible move, considering how far they've taken the show already. I was looking forward to X Factor just to see Cheryl Cole gain success in America, and now they are snatching it away. I also don't appreciate the accent excuse. I can understand her just fine, and America would have too.

Absolutely fail of a decision, but I am still hoping that it is a just a rumor.

I'll update this post with official confirmation from Cowell or FOX.

How Good is X Factor Winner Matt Cardle's First Single?

X Factor winner Matt Cardle is poised to top the Christmas charts this week with his winner's single, "When We Collide". The Biffy Clyro cover (the original title was "Many of Horror") is expected to return the series to its status of "Christmas number one usurper", which it lost last year when Joe McElderry failed to reach the top of the festive chart with "The Climb".

So, is this song a #1 hit because of the show, or because it is a deserving smash.

As someone whose first viewing of Matt Cardle on X Factor was his wobbly duet with Rihanna in the final, I was frankly surprised he won the series (I really haven't been watching). Still, I found his winner's single, which was a retitled cover of an alt-rock Scottish band's hit. Than in itself was surprising, considering Simon Cowell usually chooses fluffy pop productions for his winners (see Leona, Joe, Leon, and Shayne).

"When We Collide" does get that glossy X Factor production value; I can't imagine an indie band having a song so overwrought, and with a key change. The lyrics, which border on the obsessive, just don't fit the over-scaled orchestration that was obviously thrown in. The dramatic production is only meant to highlight the reason why we buy his single: the voice. Luckily for the show, Matt Cardle redeems himself from his shoddy vocals with Rihanna on this song. He really does have a great voice. He has a spectacular lower register, which he showcases very well in the verses. He also can also hit those big power notes so crucial to being an X Factor winner, like the last note of the song. Matt definitely has a voice ready for radio.

"When We Collide" is definitely a winner's single, fitting the formula pretty well. Yet, there is something more to this song that stops its descent to the Recycle Bin of your computer a month in. That makes it the best X Factor coronation single released so far. Congrats to Matt on the inevitable X-mas #1.

Download of the Day 12/13: Someone Wake Me Up by Joe McElderry

Someone wake Joe's career up!

Poor Joe.

The young winner of the last season of the UK's X Factor has a pretty rough winner's journey. First, his winner's single, a cover of Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" had the Christmas number one snatched from it by a nearly two-decade song from Rage Against The Machine. Then, his first official debut single "Ambitions" peaked at a disappointing #6 on the UK charts, the lowest peak for a first single from an X Factor winner (even Leon Jackson got to #4).

Now, his second single "Someone Wake Me Up" is looking to flop even worse, entering the charts this week at a tragic #68. Meanwhile, his runner-up, Olly Murs, has landed a #1 and a #4 with his first two singles.

For whatever reason, the public is clearly not feeling Joe as much as they did last Christmas. It's a shame, because his new single actually deserves to be a hit. "Someone Wake Me Up" has a lot in common with "Ambitions". However, while his first single bordered on the annoying, "Someone Wake Me Up" has a relaxed charm, similar to "Teenage Dream". Joe's vocal abilities really shine on this track, allowing you to hear his crystal clear tonality. There is no doubt that Joe is the best male vocalist to come across the X Factor judges.

It's beginning to appear that Joe may go the way of Leon. He certainly doesn't deserve to, and I wouldn't say it's too late. I think people just need to "wake up".

Rating: 8 out of 10

Joe McElderry Dances Awkwardly In "Ambitions" Music Video

Big group dancing is often a hit or miss in music videos. It usually depends on the choreography, which can either be awesome (Michael Jackson's Thriller) or just tragic.

Unfortunately, Joe McElderry's video for his new single "Ambitions" falls to the latter.

While a great song, seeing Joe with his random street flash mob punching the air was hilarious, in the wrong way. He does get bonus points for not just sitting in front of a camera and looking sad as a ballad plays overhead. Dancing aside, it is a charming little video, for an epically charming little song (which is actually a cover of some Norwegian megahit. Good choice Simon!).

Check the video out below:



Joe's album Wide Awake is due on October 25th. What do you think of the video, folks?

X Factor Winner Joe McElderry Comes Out

Last year's winner of The X Factor Joe McElderry has announced that he is gay.

After months of speculation since winning the British talent show in December, the 19-year old singer revealed the truth in an exclusive interview with the UK's Daily Mirror.

About his announcement, he said "I'm really happy, I now know who I am".

Before, he has always told people that he was straight, but finally realized that he was attracted to men about three weeks ago. He also told his mother as recently as last week, who has been very supportive of his decision.

Pop singer Joe McElderry has come out
in an interview with the Daily Mirror

Joe also said: “I’ve had time to think about things. I wasn’t attracted to anyone anyway, male or female. It never really entered my head I was gay. But I just know. It’s how I feel.”

Despite his announcement, he also said that he isn't actively looking for a boyfriend at the moment, since he is so busy. However, he doesn't rule out a chance at finding a "Mr. Right".

Last Christmas, Joe McElderry became the first ever X Factor winner to lose out on the Christmas number one single, thanks to a Facebook campaign to place Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name" at the top. His single "The Climb" hit #1 the next week. His album is due out at the end of the year. He is currently working with popular producer Dallas Austin on the record, as seen in the picture above.

Being so young and in the public eye, it was very brave of him to come out the way he did. Kudos to Joe and I'm really looking forward to his new album. With a voice like his, he is easily better than 70% of the male singers out there, so he should have no problem becoming a chart smash (and as easy as the comparison is to make, especially now, he does seem fit to follow in Will Young's footsteps).

Now, if you have absolutely no clue who I'm talking about, check out this performance during last season's X Factor of "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"

So, Joe Won X Factor, But Will He Get Snubbed For The Christmas #1?

  VS  

If there is one thing you can count on every year, its that the winner of Britain's X Factor contest will have the Christmas #1 single, regardless of how crappy it is.

That might not be the case this year.

Joe McElderry, a lovely 18-year old from North London, took the crown this Sunday and simultaneously released his winner's single "The Climb", a cover of the Miley Cyrus track. I personally think the choice is crap and does nothing for Joe's voice, but I was still expecting it to slaughter the competition for this year's Christmas chart battle.

Well, as of today, his single is trailing Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name" by 60%. Why? Well, there is a Facebook campaign out to dethrone the X Factor winner with the 1992 single, and do far, it's working. Simon Cowell has denounced the campaign as "stupid" and "miserable", and Joe admitted he would be gutted if he lost the #1 spot (he's right to feel that way; I mean, freaking Steve Brookstein got there!). Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine has found humor in the situation, calling it "a grass roots effort" and "a little dose of anarchy" for the festive season.

Yet, hope is not lost for the Geordie teen. His CD single is released today, and industry experts believe that will not only help close the gap, but clinch the #1 for Joe. Remember, RATM don't have a CD single to help their sales, and physical singles are still popular sellers, even if its dying market.

In the end, Joe will most likely get the top spot for Christmas, and all will be well with the world.

But "The Climb" will still be a hideous song choice.

Janet, Lady Gaga Rock The X Factor!

Janet Jackson and Lady Gaga both performed on tonight's The X Factor results show, the last before the final next week.

Ms. Jackson performed a medley of "All For You" and her new single "Make Me" from her greatest hits album. Gaga performed "Bad Romance" dressed as a robotic devil in a bathroom.

Both performances were great (Janet's better than Gaga's), so expect both to occupy spots in next week's top 10 of the UK charts.

Check their performances out below:

Gaga:



Janet:

Joe McElderry MUST Win The X Factor!

So, I have been somewhat following this season of Britain's The X Factor for two major reasons. One, because Cheryl Cole owns a part of my soul. Two, Leona Lewis came from that show, and she owns another part of my soul. Clearly, I have a vested interest in who comes from Simon Cowell's other little talent competition.

To be honest, though, this season's talent has been a bit lacking. One contestant is being inexplicably held as the one of the contestants ever (Danyl), while one duo inexplicably survived weeks despite having zero talent (John and Edward).

There is one contestant who has been consistently amazing since the auditions, and is finally getting the praise from the judges. His name is Joe McElderry, a Geordie (same as mentor Cheryl) with a voice equitable to the texture of milk and honey.

This past week, Joe delivered two of his best performances, singing "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" and "Could It Be Magic":





Some fun trivia (and possible kismet): Leona performed both of those songs during her stint on the program. Now, she's a pop sensation.

Hopefully, Joe will see the same path.

Whitney's Wacky X Factor Performance!

Pop diva Whitney Houston was on the results show of Britain's X Factor tonight, and delivered a whopper of a performance, in more ways than one.

Her first UK performance in over a decade, Whitney sang the Freemasons remix of her current single "Million Dollar Bill" with a group of backup dancers. She was very energetic, diva-like, and a bit all over the place, up until she busted the strap of her dress. She played around with the wardrobe malfunction and continued with the performance, which was one of the best since her comeback.

What many will surely be talking about is her interview afterwards with host Dermot O'Leary. Talking to him, she seemed a bit off slightly belligerent. She was clear enough to promote her upcoming UK tour (although she struggled remembering her album release date, which is tomorrow across the pond).

We can pass off the slightly zany antics of Whitney's showing a X Factor staple. Last week, Robbie Williams delivered an wide-eyed, awkward dance-filled performance of his new single "Bodies" (which was beaten by current X Factor champ Alexandra Burke).

The exposure, good or bad, from the performance definitely did its job. Whitney's album is #1 on UK iTunes, and "Million Dollar Bill" is in the Top 10.

Keep it up, Whitney!

UNbelievable: When Did The X Factor's Eoghan Quigg Become a Jonas Brother?

16 year-old Eoghan Quigg from Northern Ireland was a very popular contestant on the past season of The X Factor, the British talent show that bore Leona Lewis. He just barely missed winning this show in December, but his huge fanbase helped him score a record contract with RCA Records.

His self-titled debut is reportedly out next week, and his first single (minus charity single "Hero") "28,000 Friends" has been making the UK music channel circuit for the last few weeks or so.

Now, if you happened to press play above and close your eyes and listen to the first minute or so, you might just mistake Quigg for either Nick or Joe Jonas.

Why?

Because this song, about a girl who has 28,000 friends on all of the social networking websites and doesn't know who any of them are, could've been a castoff from either of the Jonases albums. In fact, considering their "musical growth", this song is even too lame for them. Which means that there should be no reason on Earth why Eoghan Quigg, who actually has a really good voice, should be singing this kind of crap (incidentally, the song was written by a former member of pop/rock band Busted, who the Jonas Brothers were inspired by).

He said that this is the direction he wants to go in for his music. If I was him, I would simply buy a map and turn right back around.

Eoghan Quigg will be released on April 6th.

Could Jeff Buckley Steal Christmas #1 From X Factor Winner?

Fourteen years after the release of the song, a group is trying to get Jeff Buckley's brilliant cover of "Hallelujah" to the top of the UK Singles chart, giving him the coveted "Christmas number one" title.

A Facebook group has been created to drum up support for Buckley's version, which was listed in Rolling Stone as one of the best songgs in history. The track would be going up head-to-head with X Factor winner Alexandra Burke's version, which was revealed to be the fastest-selling download in history.

Earlier this year, Buckley's "Hallelujah" went straight up to the top of the US iTunes chart after Jason Castro performed it during the semi-finals of American Idol. Had the song been officially re-released, it most likely would've gone to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Instead, it charted at the top of the Hot Digital Songs chart.

Despite challenges from both Buckley and Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke will likely take the Christmas number one single. The single sold over 105,000 copies on its first day of release, prior to the physical CD release tomorrow.

X Factor's Alexandra Has Fastest Selling Download In History

Alexandra Burke hasn't been the X Factor winner a whole week and she's already breaking chart records.

Her winners' single, a cover of the Leonard Cohen clasic "Hallelujah", is the fastest-selling download single in European music history. On its first day of release, the track sold a mind-blowing 105,000 copies, zooming past the previous record-holder, Leona Lewis. Her debut, "A Moment Like This" brought in 82,000 copies in its first week.

She is now a certain lock for the UK Christmas number one, especially after the physical single is released on Wednesday. Retailer HMV has reportedly a large number of the CD in order to meet heavy demand. They have shown record-high sales of the download from their website.

Alexandra's closest competition appears to be Geraldine McQueen and her Gary Barlow-penned Christmas track "Once Upon A Christmas Song".

Music Video Premiere: "Hallelujah" by Alexandra Burke

Today saw the music video premiere of X Factor winner Alexandra Burke's single "Hallelujah":



It's a typical competition winner video, and the bevy of candles surrounding her is a bit of a fire hazard, but she looks absolutely stunning.

New Music Alert: X Factor Champ Alexandra's Album Due In March

According to UK retailers HMV and Play.com, the newly-crown X Factor winner Alexandra Burke will see her album released as soon as March of next year.

The set release date is a departure from the nearly year-long sabbatical from public view that previous winners Leona Lewis and Leon Jackson have taken.

It may seem odd, but there are many possible reasons for the choice. For one, Leon Jackson's period from winning to release may have damaged his selling potential; his album peaked at a paltry #4 position. Syco (the record label that Alexandra is signed to) probably wants to capitalize on the popularity she has now instead of waiting.

Then, there are the "Leona" factors, so to speak. No contestant until Alexandra has had the potential global success that Leon has had over the last two years. It is possible that pushing up the release date in the UK makes it easier for Alex to attack the global markets, especially the notoriously difficult US market. By Christmas '09, the single releases would be more evened out around the world, preventing leaks from other countries and maximizing sales.

Then there is the other Leona factor. The megastar announced her second album release for November 2009, the same month that past winners' albums have been released. Since Leona is the biggest act Simon has ever had on his label, Alex's earlier release date could be seen as a way to avoid a massive chart battle that would most likely see Leona win.

Either way, it works out well for everybody that Alexandra Burke's album will be coming earlier than expected. She is ready to make a massive pop album, and we are ready to hear it.

Song Review: "Hallelujah" by Alexandra Burke

The winner of the popular British talent competition The X Factor has been chosen, and thankfully, the public chose the best contestant, Alexandra Burke.

Burke has a smolder in her voice that I haven't heard since the days of Toni Braxton. As seen in her performances, she's an extremely versatile performer who could virtually sing anything.

Still, it should come to the surprise of no one that instead of capitalizing on her abilities, the producers gave the future pop star a cliched song to serve as her coronation single.

Let me make myself clear here; Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" is not cliche at all. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard in my entire life. What is cliche is why they chose the song. The song's title and message is easy to sell in the crucially lucrative Christmas market. The song choice feels extremely insincere, which is very sad since Buckley's version is brilliant because of the singer's heartbreaking sincerity. It's almost like they're robbing his memory somehow.

Let me preface this by saying that Alexandra Burke is an absolutely brilliant singer who should definitely follow Leona onto massive global success. That said, her version of "Hallelujah" misses the original intention completely. The tenderness and sensitivity that made Buckley's version so ethereal is completely absent in her rendition. The arrangement and her voice are to blame for that; both are so strong and powerful that it turns the song into an exhibition of bombast. By the time the song hits its crescendo and the unnecessary choir is thrown in, you can't help but slightly, ever so slightly, roll your eyes just a bit. Her voice does sound phenomenal, but it doesn't quite fit. The vocal delivery should be passionate, but also tender and sweet. It's a shame, but her voice kind of takes away from the lyrics of the song. It's very possible that if the arrangement was screwed up changed, that her voice could've delivered it, but the song's continual build forces her voice to build with it, regardless of the song.

To her credit, there are some wonderful sounding moments on this song, particularly in the ill-advised final chorus. The tone of her voice is beautiful, and the power notes she hits are affecting. If you were to ignore what she was saying, it sounds perfect. Unfortunately for the X Factor winner, Buckley's version will always be waiting in the wings, and the comparisons are practically guaranteed. The musical purists will decry her version as an assault on his memory and claim that its another example of the music competition's ineptitude.

Whether or not all of that's true, one thing is for certain. The public should be proud of voting an amazing singer and a genuinely nice girl through to pop stardom. While her first single may not be up to par (and the blame should be solely laid on Cowell's shoulders), it shouldn't stop her from being the global success that the world is waiting for her to be.

Rating: 6/10

ALEXANDRA BURKE WINS THE X FACTOR 2008!

Congratulations to the brilliant Alexandra Burke for winning British talent competition The X Factor!

In a showdown with boyband JLS, Burke took the crown, becoming the second female to win the competition.

Alexandra Burke originally tried out for the show three years ago, but mentor Louis Walsh booted her before the live shows, nearly derailing her career. Now, she has proven him wrong to become the show's star.

Her winner's single, a cover of "Hallelujah", will be released online Sunday and in the UK shops on Wednesday. She will more than likely have the UK Christmas number one single.

Once again, congrats to Alexandra!